Railway signaling apparatus.



G. J. COLEMAN.

RAILWAY SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1909.

Patented June23, 1914.

www/Q2 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0..wAsHlNuToN, D. c.

UNITED sTArps rarnm onirica.

CLYDE J'. COLEMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 HALL SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

RAILW'AY SIGNAIJING APPARATUS.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1914.

Application filed May 25, 1909. Serial No. 498,271.

pg the following is a. specification.

lIy invention relates to fluid pressure operated signals for railways and the object of the invention is to provide, at intervals along the track, compact automatically regulated and self-contained gas generating apparatus for supplying gas to operate and light the adjacent signals and for generating signal controlling current.

The use of such apparatus greatly reduces the installation and operating eX- penses of such signals by dispensing with the Stringing of wires and the laying of gas pipes along the track.

The apparatus being self-regulating needs no attendant, the only attention required being an occasional inspection for oiling certain parts and for replenishing certain tanks used in connection with the apparatus.

The apparatus, as shown, is preferably situated within a pit or inclosure below the signal.

The invention will best be understood by the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which 1 is a semaphore mounted upon a pole secured to a casing 2 containing a signal operating motor 3, having a piston l connected to the semaphore by a rod 5. A normally energized magnet 6 preferably connected to a track circuit, as shown, operates a three-way valve 7 for controlling the signal. When the magnet is energized the valve is opened to admit gas to the cylinder for moving the signal to its safety position, and when the magnet is denergized the valve operates to cut ofl1 the supply from the cylinder and open the exhaust port allowing the signal to gravitate to danger. This valve is clearly shown and described in my co-pending application for railway signaling apparatus, Serial No. 475,331, filed February 1st, 1909, and therefore needs no detailed description here. Below this casing are situated two tanks 8, one containing a hydrocarbon, preferably coal oil, and

the other containing water. These tanks are connected by means of pipes 9 andv 10 with a distillate coil 11, which at its upper end connects with a reservoir 12, from which leads a pipe 13 for supplying gas to the signal operating motor 3.

Mounted upon a frame 14 near the reservoir is a gas motor 15 preferably a gas turbine, which is supplied with motive power by a pipe 16 leading from the reservoir. From the bottom of the motor leads an eX- haust pipe 17 to a gas burner 18 for heating the distillate coil 11, in which the hydrocarbon and water are evaporated into their permanent gaseous constituents, namely, hydrocarbon and carbon monoXid, and for every cubic foot of oil and water there will be produced about 1500 cubic feet of gas,

which is stored in the reservoir.

Journaled in the frame 14 and geared to said gas motor, is a crank shaft 19, which drives a pump 20 having a piston connected to each of the pipes 9 and 10, as shown. A

small rotary electric generator 21 preferably alternating current, is also mounted upon frame 14 and is driven from said gas turbine through suitable reduction gears.

This generator supplies current to the block section adjacent to the section from which the signal 1 is controlled. The controlling current for the operating mechanism of signal 1 being supplied from a similar generator at the other end of its block.

While the generator is illustrated as supplying current to the block adjacent to signal 1, it is obvious that in other types of signaling systems well known in the art, the generator may as conveniently supply controlling current to the same signal which receives its motive power from reservoir 12.

The pipes 9y and 10 are provided at each end with spring pressed valves 22 and 22.

X lever 23 is pivoted within each tank; the

permanent conditions existing at any one of the generating plants the exhaust from the gas turbine is found to be insufficient to supply the burner 18, then the valve in pipe 28 is` so adjusted that the necessary additional gas Will be supplied through this pipe.

The generator Q1 and the pump 20 are continuously driven. by the gas turbine, the exhaust from which is supplied to the burner 18. As the pump plungers are lifted, the valves 22 are held to their seats by the springs shown, and the valves 22 are opened against their springs to permit the hydrocarbon and Water to be drawn from the tanks. As the plungers descend the valves Q2 are closed by their springs and the fluid pressure behind them, while the valves 22 are forced open against their springs and the water and hydrocarbon forced into coil 11 in a mixed state. The heat applied to this coil at once deccmposes the mixture into combustible gases Which pass into the reservoir.`

When the pressure in the reservoir reaches a predetermined point the diaphragm 25 is forced outward, moving the lower ends of the levers 28 against the projections on valves 22', thus opening the valves and holding them open until the pressure in the tank has fallen to a predetermined point.

lilith the valves 22 held open; as the pump is operated, lthe liquid from each tank is sucked up by the plungers and again forced back into the tank as the plungers descend, thus preventing a further supply of hydrocarbon and Water to the coil 11. As long as the gas pressure in the tank is maintainedabove the desired point the valves 22 are held open under the control of the diaphragm and the pumps while continuing to operate are rendered ineffective to supply hydrocarbon to the coil.

Assuming that the reservoir 12 is charged With gas and that the gas turbine 15 has been started, the operation of the apparatus is as follows: The generator 21 for supplying signal controlling current, and the pump 20 for supplying liquid, hydrocarbon and Water to the coil 1l, as above explained, are each continuously driven through suitable reduction gearing from the gas turbine. The

burner 18 for heating the coil consumes the exhaust gas of the turbine and if this is found to be insuiiicient the valve in pipe 28 is set so as to supply additional gas. The heat applied to the coil 11 decomposes the liquid mixture into its gaseous components which pass into reservoir 12.

With the block empty, the magnet 6 is energized, holding the valve 7 in a position to connect. the supply pipe to the cylinder 4 for holding the signal at safety. When a car enters the block the magnet is shorteircuited by the car axles, permitting the valve to close the supply pipe and connect the cylinder with its exhaust port, Whereupon the semaphore is allowed to gravitate to danger. When the car passes out of the bleek the magnet is again energized, operating the valve to close the exhaust port and to connect the supply pipe with the cylinder for moving the semaphore to safety.

lf the amount of gas consumed by the gas turbine, signal operating motor and the lamp is suflicient to keep the gas pressure in reservoir 1Q below a certain point, the pumps ivill continuously supply hydrocarbon and water to coil 11 g but if due to the infrequent operation of the signal. at certain times, the gas pressure reaches a predetermined point; then the diaphragm 9.5 is deflected outward moving bar 2st for opening valves 22 and preventing a further supply of hydrocarbon as heretofore explained.

1t is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the apparatus shown `without departing from the spirit of my invention, and all such changes are intended to be covered by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a signal, a fluid pressure operated motor operatineI said signal, a gas generator for supplying gas to saidL motor, a motor supplied from said generator, a signal controlling circuit, and an electric generator supplying energy to said circuit and driven by said gas motor.

Q. The combination with a signal, a fluid pressure operated motor operating said signal, of a generator located at the signal for supplying gas to said motor, a gas motor nea said generator and supplied With motive fluid from the same, a signal controlling circuit, and an electric generator for such circuit driven from said gas motor.

ln a signaling system the combination of a signal, a fluid pressure operated motor operating said signal, a second signal and a controlling circuit for the same, a gas generator located at the first signal and supplying motive poiver to said motor, and an electric generator at said first signal supplyingcurrent to said circuit and supplied With motive power from said gas generator.

4. ln a signaling system the combination of a signal, a fluid pressure motor operating said signal, a hydrocarbon tank, a gas generater for supplying motive power to said motor, a continuously operating gas motor supplied from said generator, a signal controlling circuit, an electric generator connected to the same and continuously driven from said gas motor, a pump continuously driven by said gas motor for supplying hydrocarbon to said gas generator, and means for cutting off the supply of hydrocarbon from d tank at a predetermined pressure in said gas generator.

5. In a signal apparatus the combination of a signal, a iuid pressure motor operating said signal, a hydrocarbon tank, a gas generator located at the signal and connected with said tank for supplying motive power to said motor, a continuously operating gas motor adjacent to said generator, a pump connected between said tank and generator and driven by said gas motor, a signal controlling circut, and an electric generator supplying energy to the same and also driven from said gas motor.

6. In a railway signaling system, the combination of signals located at intervals along the track, gas producing apparatus for each signal, a gas motor supplied from each of said apparatus, and a source of slgnal controlling current operated by each of said motors.

7. In a railway signaling system, the combination of signals located at intervals along the track, self-regulating gas producing apparatus for each signal and a gas motor supplied froni each of said apparatus for operating the respective signals, and means for utilizing part of said gas, thus produced for generating signal controlling current.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speciication, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GLYDE J. COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

EDWIN SEGER, S. M. WARD, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1D. C. 

